How to Calculate Bullet Length

A bullet is the part of the firearm cartridge that comes out of the muzzle or end of a gun. The length of the bullet is measured from the base of the casing -- the base of the bullet that sits in brass and where the gunpowder is found -- to the tip of the bullet. Knowing the length of the bullet is important for reloading because if the bullet is seated too shallow or too deep into the brass it may not work as intended. Measuring the bullet before assembly of the cartridge parts and measuring the finished cartridge afterward allows the maker to know that the bullet was correctly seated.

Things You'll Need

• Caliper

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place the base of the bullet on the fixed jaw of the caliper.

   • 2

     Adjust the sliding jaw so that it touches the nose of the bullet.

   • 3

     Read the measurement from the scale to determine the bullet length.